A Swedish grey-blue shade is the perfect colour to complement warm wood tones.

Walls are covered in beadboard panelling for a classic rural look in designer Colette van den Thillart’s cottage. The original spruce floor is stained ebony and finished in glossy lacquer to create contrast.

Painted beadboard combined with pine and bare wood is very country. The chandelier is painted out the same shade as the walls, along with ornate cornice above the doors. Punchy red crewelwork on the chairs injects pattern. An antique beetle cartouche draws eyes up to the vaulted ceiling.

Large- and small-scale florals and stripes give this room a cohesive look. Decorating on a budget? A covered night table, painted bench and mismatched lamp bases demonstrate the charm of thrift store finds. A bench at the foot of the bed provides a space to store books.

Once a room in an old schoolhouse, this dining area is now warm and inviting. The woodsy table was built by owner Carmen Dunjko with a wooden plank wrapped in artist’s canvas and birch stumps, reflecting the home’s Eastern Ontario pastoral setting. Sleek beech and rush dining chairs by Italian designer Vico Magistretti offer contrast and polish.

Custom-made beds in this former schoolhouse-turned-cottage work as seating by day and as a sleeping area for guests at night. Simple hand-woven blankets add texture. The floors were once orange, but owner Carmen Dunjko layered on translucent white paint and then hand-brushed the boards with steel wool for a time-scarred patina. A worn desk and chair continue the schoolhouse theme.

In this dining room, the shallow mantel and thickly grouted fireplace surround are almost flush with the wall, and tie in perfectly with the board-and-batten panelling and exposed ceiling beams. The rustic feel is continued with a pair of simple turned-wood candlesticks and a faded framed map. George Washington-shaped andirons are a playful historic touch.

Shutters, hanging lanterns, a wall of windows, cedar floors and a wood ceiling all maintain an alfresco vibe in this area. The painted pine circa-1850 cabinet and harvest table, which were paired with English mahogany Chippendale chairs, were original to antiques dealer Douglas Stocks’s 1850s Georgian-style home.

Custom cabinetry and antique finds restore this kitchen to its 19th-century glory.

The homeowners were able to add square footage to this space by removing false walls and ceilings, uncovering the original stone wall and wooden ceiling in the process. Leaving a space between the tops of the cabinets and the coffered ceiling creates the illusion of extra height, a feeling that is furthered by mounting the island on feet instead of on the floor. The practical wood-look ceramic floor tiles complement the dark wood, and feel authentically French. Antique windows from a neighbouring town enhance the historical feeling.

See the before photo, plus more stunning before-and-after shots in our Bold Renovations gallery.

And for more beautiful French country interiors, see our photo gallery.

Wicker chairs and an oversized pendant lantern bring old Muskoka charm into this open-concept living/kitchen area. The floors are low-key antique hemlock, keeping with the theme of using natural materials.

Anchored by a big wrought-iron chandelier, this dining area is surrounded by tall windows that drop down into pockets in the cottage’s foundation. The drapery and wool rug were chosen for their tactile quality and seasonally appropriate patterns.

This cottage’s black-stained wood siding and crisp white gingerbread trim were left untouched to keep the original authenticity of the structure. The stone patio offers a flat area to arrange comfortable outdoor seating for lazy afternoons in the shade.

Work your style and floor plan around the structure of your space, not the other way around. Part of the appeal of this sunny cottage breakfast room is the uneven beadboard and knotty wood floors. Designer Anne Hepfer kept these elements intact and simply transformed the look with white paint, casual decor and a fresh blue and white palette.

How To
Study a room before you buy or move around furniture. Don’t automatically arrange seating the same way you had it in your last place. Consider the light, surfaces and the room’s function and let those elements direct your choices.

Function marries form in chunky reclaimed-wood tables that roll on casters, a side table that boasts hidden storage, and a sofa clad in a white slipcover for easy cleaning. Wood accents, sculptural shapes and a bright suzani and throw pillows add warmth and personality.

A cottage bunkie is the perfect place to use a unique colour scheme, different from that of the main cottage. Here, fiery colours contrast sharply with the white painted-wood walls, adding a bohemian vibe to the room.

Tropical hues and organic touches invite visitors to kick back and relax. Textured rattan mats stapled to the walls create the look of pricey grasscloth wallpaper. Twin beds dressed in breezy polka dots can be used for sitting and sleeping. Mosquito nets add drama without cluttering the space.

View more photos of this cottage bunkie in our July 2009 issue. Plus, see more incredible spaces from 2009 in our photo gallery.